Chasing Dragons...

I guess it's okay to discuss this now. I'm trying to hold off from mentioning new stuff, until they solidify. But this has been bumped up, so I'll go ahead and tell you about it.

Two weeks ago, I saw an ad on Craigslist for an audition for the host of a new webisode series that's starting up in Chicago. The concept behind this series is, "The Daily Show Correspondants covering Nothing But Chicago Stuff". So, a localized "Daily Show". An idea that I really dig.

And, honestly, my thought was, "If I can get three or four of these down and they don't look like shite, I can use this as my audition tape to become an actual Daily Show correspondant." As with most of these opportunities, I sent out my interest and availability, with the expectation that I wouldn't hear back from them.

I submitted several headshots, a letter of interest, a recent resume and waited. A week later, I got an email from the producer/director, saying that he'd researched me on YouTube and liked what he saw and asked me if I wouldn't consider becoming "The Chicago Guy" for his series of webisodes.

There will be several hosts for the show. Each one representing a different area of expertise. The Sports Guy. The Club Chick. The Theater Nerd. The Food Eater?!? Me? I will be The Chicago Guy. Dealing with Chicago events, Chicago history and representing the cities perspective. I don't know who the other hosts will be. I think that they're already cast from other sources. Me? I'm the king of this pile of miscreants.

Originally, my first shoot was scheduled for Feb. 15th. At the Chicago Auto Show. Doing a segment called "The Women Of The Auto Show". And I still might do that segment. I have to tell you, I've been secretly planning some Hilarious Bits for that shoot, if it happens.

Today, I got an email from the producer/director of the show and their correspondant that they had lined up for this weekend, had to cancel. She forgot to ask for work off for it. So, they have a segment and no host. I've agreed to take on the gig.

The segment is set to be shot all day, on Sunday, from the Chinatown New Years Eve Parade. The idea is that the segment host will give us a little bit of history of the Chinatown parade and Chinese New Years and then spend the entire segment trying to get a position in one of those Chinese Dragons and actually walk IN THE PARADE! Or RUN in the parade. Because, if they actually let me drive one of those Dragons, we ARE going to run. I promise it.

I shot an email to Greg to see if he's free too. I'd like to bring him and his camera along to photograph the whole experience. In addition to the segments, the show wants to also maintain a blog. And "Behind The Scenes" pics might also make nice additional content to the blog until the segment is edited and ready to go. I'm waiting to hear back from him, if he's available. And furthermore, if the producer is cool with my bringing him. I'm sure it will be fine, though.

So, on this Sunday, in the freezing Chicago cold, I'll don my best business suit, long underwear and heavy overcoat, pick up a microphone and chase dragons in Chinatown. Sounds pretty exciting to me!!!

Cheers,
Mr.B